United States v. Texas was one of the U.S. Supreme Court’s highest profile disputes this term, touching on a host of significant issues, from constitutional issues such as the ability of states to challenge federal immigration programs, the extent of executive branch power and by implicating the status of millions of immigrants. The Court’s decision reflected a four to four split, which challenged President Obama’s signature immigration reform efforts.
Programs such as DAPA “Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents” are now at high risk of being permanently shut down. DAPA is a planned American immigration policy to grant deferred action status to certain illegal immigrants who have lived in the United States since 2010 and have children who are either American citizens or lawful permanent residents. Deferred action is not full legal status but would come with a three-year, renewable work permit and exemption from deportation.
The program was announced in November 2014 by President Barack Obama, along with a number of immigration reform steps including increased resources for border enforcement, new procedures for high-skilled immigrants, and an expansion of the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ”DACA” program.